Hasta

That's our never-scored right back who is the only person centrally in the box as Rothwell crosses there.

Remember that “who would take a penalty debate” earlier this week ………

Because it’s in the first half.

I'm all for that. But for strikers and defenders, putting unbloodied kids onto the pitch in big games rarely seems to be Mowbray style. To be fair I've nothing really to draw an opinion on Hedges. I just don't think he'll be the goal-poaching option we desperately need.

I don't think anyone is saying Dack should be playing any significant part in the game. However if we need a goal in the last 5 or so minutes we will end up with some weird attacking formation and sticking balls in the box whenever we can. We saw it at Swansea a couple of games ago. Dack's biggest attribute, for all his technical ability, has been his timing and finding space in the box. If he's played in several under23 games, I'm fairly sure he can physically and mentally cope with a 5 minute cameo. I'd rather the ball dropped to him 8 yards out than Ayala being chucked up top.

That’s one issue. He’s not instinctive enough when he is in the box, nor does he get into the box at the right times. But playing in the role he is asked to means he regularly picks the ball up outside the box in non-central positions. Whereas the other strikers can drive forward, Gallagher simply can’t. Weirdly, he actually was better at it in his first spell.

Because our "2nd striker" isn't suited at all to playing out wide.

I’ve just added punctuation. I’m guessing this isn’t what you meant.

The two arguments here aren't mutually exclusive. Despite my anger on Saturday, it now does appear like the clubs wanted to play and they felt they could play but the referee decided he didn't want to risk it due to 'player safety'. However we know the ground and it's staff have been under-invested over the last 10 years and, had that not been the case, it probable that the game could have gone ahead.

Blackburn 4 Bolton 1 2013 When he scored that 3rd goal in that game early in his Rovers career I thought we had a proper midfield player on our hands. All went downhill from there.

I agree. I think the amount of snow just over the touch line must be the problem. If it wasn’t frozen at 12.30 it won’t be frozen now. Pub club.

The ref passed the pitch at 12.30 , therefore he felt it would be playable. It’s obviously the standing snow that’s causing the problem.Rovers must have told the ref they could clear the snow in time, which they obviously haven’t been able to do. They must be a fair way off their wise you could surely just delay it a bit. Bolton were in a similar position and they’ve got it on.

Absolute joke. Bolton can get it on but we can’t.

And again.

Waggot probably wanted to get some pies sold so they weren’t wasted before calling it off.

Would the ref definitely have been there at 12pm for the first inspection?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2655524 You can see that big snow cloud on the map lower down on that page. Unless its hit Huddersfield Id be worried about the conditions coming over the M62. However Blackburn has had the worst of it and the temperatures are well above freezing.

Its just light drizzle sleety rain now and the skies are much greyer rather than white like they were earlier. No idea what the roads are like.

Who calls it off for road safety? The police I presume. I presume the conversation is currently "We can get the game on with this pitch, but we can't announce the pitch is OK only for you to call it off due to the roads in 30 minutes time"

If we were playing Hull I would say text and email all ticket purchasers if it is off, and then officially announce it at 2.45pm.

If its off for snow it generally safety on the roads and the surrounding areas. Never because of the immediate area around the ground and the pitch. If traffic is moving its not an issue but if cars aren't getting up Cravens / Livesey easily its going to be seen as a problem.

Those lads from Chile must be thinking WTF?

I don’t. I think you’d be surprised how many of the ‘Oxford’ attendees would come out for that. Plus people who have never been to Wembley. For games like that, people tend to take their families as well. I know for the Worthy final I had family members who had been to Ewood only a handful of times in the previous 10 years going down with their partners. Not saying we would sell out but doubt it would be the numbers you are imagining. Lets hope we find out!

Agree. He also looks more agitated and animated during games now than at any point in the last 3 years.

I saw a guy try that at Wigan a few years ago and he got punched for his trouble. If I am in a stand and I toss a bottle on the pitch at an opposition player I would expect to get banned if I got caught. Therefore if I elected to do it I couldn't complain at any reprisals that action may have. I dont understand how anyone that did get banned could have any complaints about it. Do they seriously not think that is not what is going to happen to them?